Common Kitchen Mishaps (and How to Fix Them)

We've all been there — in the midst of planning a pretty party spread or a nice meal for the family, suddenly something goes terribly, terribly wrong. But never fear! Even if you've never gotten those potatoes quite right or cooked a chicken without drying it out, we've got the fast fixes you need to remedy common cooking mistakes, no matter how disastrous they seem.

Looking for a batch of foolproof recipes that will deliver every time? Check out our collection of deliciously easy recipes.

Bring Together Broken Mayonnaise

Freshly made mayo is a real treat, especially if you use it as the base in a homemade aioli or dipping sauce. But what to do when it breaks? The key to making good mayo is proper emulsification — after all the other ingredients are whisked together, make sure to add the oil in a very slow, steady stream, whisking vigorously the whole time. If your mayo breaks, fix it by making a double batch — this may sound counter-intuitive, but trust us! In a separate bowl, begin again, adding the oil very slowly to the other items in the bowl and whisking each drop in thoroughly before adding more. Once you have an emulsified mixture, whisk the broken sauce, little by little, into the better batch, just as you would usually add the oil. The emulsified mayonnaise will help bring the broken stuff together, and you'll have a bigger batch of perfect mayo.